Guide

It was a great victory for the Philippines during the recently concluded Fantasporto 2019.

Four films of the 2018 Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival were able to bring honor to the country during the 39th edition of the Oporto International Film Festival.

Ina Raymundo and Ai-Ai delas Alas tied with each other as Best Actress winners in the film fest held in Oporto, Portugal from February 22 to March 2.

Ina was recognized for her Cinemalaya 2018 film Kuya Wes while Ai-Ai won for the drama film School Service.

Directed by Louie Ignacio, School Service also took home the Orient Express Special Jury Award.

The film, which also gave Ai-Ai her Cinemalaya Best Actress trophy last year, is a drama about Filipino children begging in the streets of Manila.

This can be considered Ai-Ai’s third international Best Actress trophy. In 2017, she was named Best Actress for her film Area during the 2017 AIFFA (ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards) held in Sarawak, Malaysia. She also bagged the Best Female Actor award at the 2017 Queens World Film Festival in New York.

In her Instagram account, Ai-Ai dedicated her triumph to her "pogi" and "mabait" husband Gerald.

As for Dante, this is his first international recognition, after many decades of working in the Philippine movie industry.

The veteran Pinoy thespian grabbed the Best Actor plum for his poignant performance in Carlo Enciso Catu’s Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon (Waiting For Sunset). This film also won the Special Jury Prize in the Director's Week competition (non-genre official section).

Kung Paano Hinihintay Ang Dapithapon is about an unmarried old couple (Perla Bautista and Menggie Cobarrubias) who is asked to help the woman’s long-lost husband (Dante Rivero), after many years of separation.

As for Ina, she won her first local Best Actress trophy from the Star Award for Movies for Jeffrey Jeturian's Tuhog (2001). After many years, this is her second Best Actress win: an international recognition from Portugal.

Director Louie Ignacio personally received his award in Portugal.

Earlier during the festival week, both director James Mayo and Kuya Wes lead actor Ogie Alcasid arrived in Portugal.

Since the winners were not revealed to them ahead of time, the two went back home to the Philippines not knowing that Ina bagged the Best Actress honor.

A couple of weeks ago, he attended a different international film festival.

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The other Filipino winners--Dante, Ina, and Ai-Ai--were unable to attend, due to work schedule conflicts in Manila.

Incidentally, Kuya Wes, produced by Spring Films, will have its commercial release starting March 13 (Wednesday) in Philippine cinemas.

According to Spring Films, the movie was slightly enhanced to give it a more commercial feel and look. Kuya Wes now features a new soundtrack and tighter editing of some long and dragging scenes but the story is still intact just like its Cinemalaya version.